ADF servicewomen sue Defence over allegations of rape, sexual assault, discrimination
Australian female soldiers have launched unprecedented legal action against the Australian Defense Force over allegations they suffered systemic sexual violence, harassment, rape and discrimination while serving their country.
Allegations of prolonged victimization by male colleagues, including accusations of assault last year, are included in a class-action lawsuit filed against the Commonwealth in Federal Court on Friday.
Former RAAF member Gemma said she lost her career after allegations of sexual assault were investigated by the ADF.
Legal action follows an investigation by this imprint and 60 MinutesWomen in defense talk about their sexual assaults and the pressure put on them to remain silent or the consequences if they speak out.
The lawsuit, filed by class action law firm JGA Saddler, will be led by four lead applicants, which will include allegations that she woke up naked and bruised with no memory of leaving a party with four male colleagues, that men rubbed their crotches against them and touched her breasts, that she had to fight off unwanted advances from a male Navy colleague, and that she was groped and kissed while pinned against a wall.
The class action is open to 10,000 to 20,000 women who have worked at the ADF since 2023, and lawyer Josh Aylward said thousands wanted their voices to be heard so they could push for change.
“Women in the ADF face sexual violence, harassment, discrimination and [then] “When they report that these incidents are happening, they retaliate,” he said.
“These women have tremendous courage to join the defense force and fight for our country, but they should be there to defend our country, not to defend themselves against their colleagues.
“The ADF has made many reports and studies over the last 40 years into how bad the situation for women in the ADF is. But what you find in their own evidence, reports and independent studies is that things are getting worse for women in the ADF and women are now less likely to report an incident occurring than they were 10 years ago.”
